Improvement in tanning



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

enononin. WHEELOOK, OF FREEDOM, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN TANNING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 59, [09, dated October 23, 1866.

To all -whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,- GEORGE D. WHEELOOK, of Freedom, in the county of Portage and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Process for Tanning Hides and Skins; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the. art to fully understand and make use of the same.

This invention relates to a tanning process which is based on the use of such chemicals, in combination with suitable quantities of catechu, sumac, or other astringent salts, that a tough, pliable, and heavy leather can be produced in a comparatively short time.

In carrying out my process, I first soak, the hides or skins in a liquor made of fermented corn meal, one pound; common salt, two pounds; soft water, eight gallons. In this liquor the hides or skins remain until theyare soft, and then I place them in the hairingliquor, which is composed as follows: soft water, eight gallons; carbonate of soda, one pound; lime, three pounds; leached lye, two quarts. In this liquor the hides or skins remain from two to four days, until the hair slips easily. Then the hair is removed and the hide put in a bating-liquor, which is made as follows: soft water, eight gallons; nitric acid, one-fourth pound; common salt, one pound; corn-meal, one quart; hen-manure, two quarts. In this liquor the hides or skins remain from two to four days, until they are reduced to their natural thickness.

After the hides or skins have been removed from the hating-liquor Iintroduce them in the tanning-liquor, which is made as follows: nitric acid, one pound; salts of ammonia, onefourth pound; common salt, three pounds; fermented corn-meal, two quarts; catechu, three-fourths pound; sumac, one pound. In this liquor the hides or skins remain for three days, (more or less,) and then I remove them into the second tanning-liquor, which is composed as follows: soft water, eight gallons;

fermented corn-meal, three quarts; nitric acid,

one-half pound; salt of ammonia, one-eighth carbonate of soda, one-fourth pound. In this liquor the hides or skins remain for six days;

then they are washed and scoured with soft water, and after the water has been slicked out as much as possible the hides or skins are stuffed with the following compound: tallow,

one pound; straits-oil, one pint; Castor-oil, one-half pint; bees-Wax, two ounces; alcohol, one-fourth pint; corn-starch, one-half pound; to which maybe added, for polish, white glue,

two ounces, and suficient lamp-black to produce a good black.

The above quantities are sufficient for tanning one hide or four calf-skins.

By the combination of lime, lye, and carbonate of soda, the hide or skin is raised and the pores are opened, thus rendering the hide or skin fit for tanning, as the more the same is raised the softer and more pliable the leather will be. 1

The combination of the hen-manure, cornmeal, salt, and nitric acid in the bate destroys the burning or hardening tendency of the lime, and reduces the hide to its original thickness. Furthermore, in the tanning-liquors, the combination of nitric acid, salts of ammonia, common salt, and corn-meal produces atonic salt,

which to some extent neutralizes the astringent Y properties of the oatechu and sumac, and thereby a permanent tanned leather is produced, which, when filled with the st'uffing, is rendered impervious to water.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The within -described process of tanning hides and skins by treating the same successively with the liquors herein set forth.

GEO. D. WHEELOOK.

Witnesses:

J. B. HAMILTON, O. D. W HEELOOK. 

